[ausbah]

a side note, but a dimple but effective strategy I use for getting of time consuming websites is to just use a password manager for all my accounts on those sites. logging out of those accounts, and having the password only be accessible via another long and complicated password (to access the password vault) is usually enough of a barrier in the moment

[AndrewOMartin]

I did a combination of this strategy and the one in the article. I changed my hosts file, then changed my root password to something with ~20 characters, then I gave the password to my wife (coworker would have also worked) and told them not to let me have it before 6pm. In cases I need to install something I just had to convince them of the necessity.

The human element really worked wonders compared to a poorly technical solution.

[JadeNB]

> coworker would have also worked

I think some consideration of the social aspect here is required. I agree that part of a marriage is agreeing to help one another in these small accountabilities, but, if a random coworker tried to impose this on me, I would not appreciate even the small imposition on my time. It's not, and shouldn't be, my job to help a random coworker stop procrastinating.

… But maybe you meant "a coworker who is also a friend", in which case it's fine; but still then I'd argue that the important point is that you could give it to a friend, not that you give it to a coworker. In fact, even from a selfish point of view, the friendship is important: if a coworker asks this of me who isn't already a friend, then I'm less likely to spend energy in arguing with any password request, and so will simply grant it reflexively.

[Wowfunhappy]

What happens when you need to perform other administrative tasks on your machine?

[AndrewOMartin]

I just had to make the case to my wife/coworker. The nature of this technique is that it works best when you don't have much serious administration to do and just have to grind out a lot of writing.

[Wistar]

My solution is to change the password of time-suck sites by closing my eyes, typing in the password and cut-paste to confirm.

I find I do not miss them.